December Orange – Skin Cancer Prevention Month

– What are the Most Common Skin Cancers?

Skin cancer can basically present in three most common types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

1.What is Basal Cell Carcinoma?

It is the most frequent skin cancer, mainly resulting from exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation.

How Does Basal Cell Carcinoma Appear?

It presents as a nodular lesion or a skin-colored or erythematous (reddish) and sometimes dark-colored plaque that may bleed.

Is Basal Cell Carcinoma Serious? Can it compromise other organs?

It is a tumor that rarely metastasizes (involves other organs), but can be locally invasive.

What is the treatment of basal cell carcinoma?

Treatment consists of removing the tumor or using destructive methods, depending on the tumor characteristics.

How to Prevent Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Prevention can be accomplished with the use of sun protection.

2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Second most common skin cancer. It occurs most commonly in regions of the body exposed to the sun, with ultraviolet radiation being the most important factor in its occurrence.

In the oral region, SCC is related to the habit of smoking and the use of alcoholic beverages. While in the genital region, it is related to chronic infections by the HPV virus.

How Does Squamous Cell Carcinoma Appear?

Clinically, it is characterized by a nodule, ulcerated or not, or a vegetating or verrucous plaque. Metastasis can occur. Treatment varies according to tumor characteristics. Protection from sun exposure is of fundamental importance to prevent the appearance of the tumor.

3. Melanoma

It is a more aggressive skin cancer, with a high rate of metastasis (involvement of other organs).

Sun exposure is the main environmental risk factor for the development of melanoma. People with fair skin, eyes and hair that are more prone to sunburn than to tan belong to the group most affected by melanoma.

A history of sunburn with blistering in childhood, the presence of multiple melanocytic, atypical or dysplastic nevi, and a previous history of melanoma, as well as a family history of melanoma, are other risk factors for the development of the tumor. Melanoma can arise anywhere on normal skin as a pigmented lesion with irregular borders and symptoms of itching and scaling, or it can arise from a pre-existing nevus with asymmetry, irregular borders, change in color and increase in size.

Treatment depends on the characteristics